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  4. Document 708

711.00 Policy Statement/7–648

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Army (Royall)

secret
eyes only
Washington, July 7, 1948.

I have considered Under Secretary Draper’s telegram SVC 684 of July 6, 1948 from Vienna1 and appreciate the suggestions contained therein with regard to possible action in the light of recent developments in Yugoslavia. However, I feel that the situation is too fluid at present for us to undertake now the steps General Draper proposes.

I am enclosing a copy of a paper prepared on June 302 which summarizes the circumstances and issues as evaluated by our officers and concludes that, for the time being, it is desirable that we avoid injecting this country at least pending further clarification. A telegram from Mr. Bevin, also of June 30,3 indicates that the British share our attitude that a further appreciation of the situation is necessary before we can determine what course we should pursue.4

G.[eorge] C. Marshall
  1. Supra.↩
  2. Policy Planning Staff Paper No. 35, p. 1079.↩
  3. See telegram 2905, June 30, from London, p. 1078.↩

  4. In a memorandum of July 9, 1948, Secretary Marshall reported as follows to Under Secretary Lovett on decisions taken by the Cabinet:

    “I went over the Yugoslav situation particularly as to Draper’s proposal and Harriman’s message to me. The President was in agreement with our stand in the matter and apparently so were the other Members of the Cabinet.” (860H.00/7–948)

    For a summary of Ambassador Harriman’s views, see telegram 830, July 21, to Moscow, p. 1093.

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